We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dr. Tara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

My first job was being a Teaching Assistant (TA). I was in graduate school, still in my early 20s, and didn’t speak fluent English because I just moved from Thailand. I wasn’t very confident and had imposter syndrome even though I applied to this competitive job and got an offer due to my merit. I often wondered if students were judging me because I was young and inexperienced.

However, things changed as I learned one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my life and it still pertains to my life today.

Practice confidence until it becomes real. It’s similar to the fake it til you make it principle. People trust you and listen to you more when you appear to be very confident. Whether you’re teaching a concept or selling a product, if you seem uncertain, no one will believe what you have to say. You need to show up 110% confident even if you don’t feel like that on the inside. That in itself has contributed to so much success in my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I offer sex and relationship coaching for individuals and couples who want to improve their intimacy and relationship. My approach is straightforward, goal-oriented, compassionate, and non-judgmental. Additionally, I offer foundation of sexual wellness online course and sexual confidence online course. My book “How Do You Like It? A Guide For Getting What You Want (In Bed)” is available at every bookstore and Amazon.

I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, in a very religious and sexually repressed environment where sex was never talked about and sex education was nonexistent. I grew up with a lot of sexual shame, which deeply shaped my curiosity about relationships, intimacy, and communication.

I moved to the United States to study interpersonal communication and went on to earn my master’s and PhD in human communication, specializing in relationships and sexual communication. Today, I’m a professor of relational and sexual communication at California State University, Fullerton. Teaching has always been central to my work, and my students were actually the ones who encouraged me to start my private practice and social media. They told me I had a unique ability to make people feel safe and comfortable talking about sex—something most people find incredibly hard.

At the same time, I was going through a painful divorce from my first husband due to sexual incompatibility. That experience made my work deeply personal. I understand firsthand how big of an issue sex can be in relationships and how isolating it feels when you don’t know how to talk about it.

About five years ago, I launched my private practice and online platform. Today, I help individuals and couples work through sexual shame, communication issues, mismatched desire, and intimacy challenges using research-backed tools and real-life empathy. I’m now remarried to the love of my life, and our relationship is built on open communication and a deeply fulfilling sex life. My own sexual empowerment journey gave me far more than pleasure—it gave me confidence, clarity, and a more passionate life overall.

My platform has continued to grow, leading to six figures in brand deals this year and appearances on three TV shows. While I haven’t focused as much on promoting my own offers like coaching, courses, or books, my mission remains the same: to normalize conversations about sex and empower people to build relationships rooted in honesty, connection, and pleasure. What I want people to know most is this—there’s nothing wrong with wanting more intimacy, and learning to communicate about sex can truly change your life.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I would always choose this path. I truly believe this is my destiny. To become the Oprah of Sex!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A huge pivot was when I got the big D. D for divorce. It was a transformative moment because I finally stopped living in my own denial and accepted the fact that we weren’t compatible. I was feeling ashamed for a long time that I teach people about sexual communication but yet in that relationship we weren’t doing what I preached. After that moment, I vowed to myself to always live authentically and always speak up for my needs, desires, and boundaries. It has changed everything in my life for the better. I’m a much more assertive communicator in every aspect of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.luvbites.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luvbites.co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtaraconsult
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtaraluvbites/
• Twitter: https://x.com/luvbitesco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Luvbitesco

Image Credits

Rachel Sherlock
Ashley Verse